Unforeseeable (21 page)

“I hope you're right,” I whispered. “I really hope you're right.”

It took several minutes
for me to calm down after Levi left. Lizzie and Noah tried to reassure me that Levi and I would find our way and work things out. In the end, I understood why Levi left, but it didn't make me feel any better. I was having a hard time breathing as I struggled to control my emotions.

“Levi said the storm is finally moving out,” Noah said once I'd settled down some. “He's going to clear off the road all the way to Kingdom. We could take you back to town tonight, but I suggest we wait until tomorrow. Others will be working on the roads as well, and it should be much safer when they're through.”

“I think that's wise,” Lizzie agreed. “That gives you another day to get yourself together, Callie.”

“I feel better,” I said, “but I have a lot of thinking to do.” I put my hand up to my chest. The steady ache I'd felt all day was sharper now. Getting upset wasn't helping me emotionally or physically.

“I truly believe everything will work out,” Lizzie said gently. She sat on the end of the couch by Noah's feet. I was in the overstuffed chair next to the fire. The flames were warm, but my heart felt like a block of ice.

“I don't want to force anything. Levi deserves to marry
the kind of woman who will make him happy. Help him to be the best pastor he can be.”

Lizzie started to say something else, but I shook my head. I didn't want to debate the situation anymore. My head was full of confusing thoughts that needed to be sorted out before I could find the path I should take.

“Mama?”

We looked up to see Charity standing on the stairs in her pajamas. She'd slept late. Not surprising after all the late-night commotion.

“Good morning,” Lizzie said with a smile. “Why don't you get dressed and then come back downstairs? I'll make you some breakfast.”

She nodded slowly. “Is Daddy all right?”

“I'm just fine, honey,” Noah said.

“Okay.” Charity didn't seem convinced. She loved Noah. Finally having a father meant everything to her. “Nobody move. I'll be right back.” She turned on the stairs and padded back up to the top.

“Nobody move?” Noah said, chuckling. “No problem. I'm so comfortable, I could stay here all day.”

Lizzie pulled the quilt up and covered him. “I know you feel better, but you might as well get a little more rest. You've been through a lot. Levi and some men from town will tow the truck back here after they clear the roads. There's nothing you need to do right now.”

That seemed to mollify him, and within a few minutes, he was snoring away. Lizzie got up and motioned for me to follow her into the kitchen.

“More coffee?” she asked once I was settled into the breakfast nook.

“I'm too nervous already. I think I've had at least six cups.”

“How about some decaffeinated tea? With a little honey?”

I smiled at her. “That sounds perfect.”

She busied herself, putting water on to boil and getting cups out of the cabinet.

Though it was still morning, I suddenly felt exhausted—and old. “Levi said the oddest thing, Lizzie.”

She sat down across from me while we waited for the water to boil. “What's that?”

I sighed and ran my finger along a ring on the hand-stitched tablecloth. “He said whatever he knew about the person who killed that woman on the road to Kingdom had more to do with me than the murder itself.”

Lizzie's forehead wrinkled and she tilted her head to the side. “What does that mean? What could you possibly have to do with the murder?”

I shrugged. “Maybe I'm really a serial killer and don't realize it.”

Lizzie snorted loudly. “Oh, for crying out loud, Callie. That's ridiculous.”

“I guess so. It's very disconcerting to realize you're a stranger to yourself.”

She smiled at me. “You're not a stranger. And you're certainly not a serial killer. I think you know yourself more than you realize. You just need to face some things you haven't before. I'll help you. We'll do this together.”

“Thanks.”

“What else did you two talk about?” she asked.

I went over everything I could remember. As I repeated the things Levi and I said, once again fear began to build up inside me, and with the fear, my pain increased. I tried to
change my position to see if I could get some relief. It didn't work. After telling Lizzie, she made me go in the bedroom and show her my chest.

“Oh, my goodness,” she said, lowering my sweater. “It's a wonder you're still on your feet. Here I've been focused on taking care of Noah and practically ignoring you. I'm so sorry, Callie. Why don't you take one of Noah's pain pills and lie down for a while?”

“I don't like pills,” I said. “They make me feel out of control.”

Lizzie chuckled. “And we can't have that.”

I tried to take a deep breath but couldn't. I grimaced with pain. “Maybe I should take you up on your offer after all. I'm really starting to hurt.”

“You don't look so good,” Lizzie said. Her voice sounded like it was coming from a barrel.

“What did you . . .” I suddenly found myself gasping for breath. “I . . . I can't . . .”

She reached for me, but before she could catch me, I collapsed to the floor. I could hear Lizzie's voice, but I couldn't understand what she was saying. Everything was blurry, and I could have sworn someone was crying. It sounded like Charity. I wanted to tell her I was okay, reassure her that there wasn't anything seriously wrong, but I couldn't get any words out.

I was gasping for air, trying to cry out, but it was useless. Images started floating around like specters without bodies. I could hear people speaking, but I couldn't understand them. I kept passing out and coming to. At one point I could have sworn I was moving. Eventually something loud, like a siren, surrounded me. Hands touched me, picked me up, and then finally, everything became silent, and I drifted away.

“Callie? Callie, can you hear me?”

I could hear Lizzie's voice, but it sounded so far away, I could barely make out her words. It took a while to get my eyes to stay open. Once they were, I found myself looking up into her worried face.

“Where . . . ?”

“You're in the hospital in Washington,” Lizzie said, stroking my hair. “You're going to be fine.”

I tried to sit up but couldn't. “What . . . what happened?”

She took my hand. “Your lung collapsed, sweetie. You've also got a broken rib.”

“But how did I get here? The snow . . .”

Lizzie smiled down at me. “Levi came back. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. When he saw you had collapsed, he started clearing the road so Noah could follow behind him with you in the truck. He was prepared to go all the way to Washington, but Sheriff Timmons was out in an SUV checking the condition of the roads. Noah met him a couple of miles out of town. The sheriff called the hospital and they sent an ambulance. It was a miracle any of them got through the snow.”

“Levi came back?” I asked. My voice was so weak I wasn't certain Lizzie could hear me.

“Yes, and he's been here almost constantly since you've been in the hospital.”

“How long . . .”

“Three days. The pain medication the doctor gave you to keep you comfortable made you sleep a lot. You woke up several times, but you probably don't remember because you were so groggy. He's decreasing the medicine so you'll be able to stay awake, but I'm afraid you're going to hurt.”

“I don't remember anything since the house.” I tried to move my head and look around me. Just as Lizzie had predicted, even that small movement was painful. “You said Levi is here?”

She shook her head. “He left once the doctor said you were going to wake up and start becoming more aware. I have no idea why, but I'm sure he's coming back. He's been so worried about you. I've never seen him so upset. We couldn't get him to leave your side.”

“Is Noah okay?”

Lizzie chuckled softly. “He's fine. Back to normal.” Her smile disappeared. “Why didn't you tell us you were in such pain?”

“I thought it was because my chest was bruised. It never entered my mind that there was anything else going on.”

Lizzie rubbed my hand. “That sounds just like you.”

I tried to sit up, but the pain made me stop. “Can this bed be raised up?”

She let go of my hand and got up from her chair. After fiddling around with some controls on the side, the bed began to move. Sitting up, even a little, felt much better than lying flat.

“The doctor says you can go home Monday morning.”

“I don't know what today is.”

“It's Saturday.”

“I have to stay two more days?”

Lizzie nodded. “They want to be absolutely certain you're okay.” She grinned. “Look at it this way—you get to lie around in bed and be waited on.”

I sighed. “I just want to go home.”

“You can't go back to the apartment, sweetie. You're coming to our house. Just until you can get around by yourself.”

Actually, I didn't mind going back to Lizzie's one bit. Being alone right now wasn't very appealing.

“Lizzie, have there been any more . . . ?”

“Murders?” Lizzie asked. “No, thank God. Not since Mary.”

“Have you talked to Roger?”

She nodded slowly. “He's a wreck. Blames himself for leaving Mary alone. I guess he feels that if anyone should have been safe, it should have been his wife.”

“That's not rational.”

“I know,” Lizzie said, “but he's grieving. I guess it's hard to think clearly when you're experiencing that kind of loss.”

“I'm sure it is. It was hard to lose Papa, but I knew he was dying. His death wasn't violent and sudden like Mary's. Roger must be devastated.”

“We'll all help him through this. It's important that he doesn't feel alone.”

I smiled at her. “You almost sound compassionate. I thought you didn't like him.”

She waved her hand at me. “Suddenly, it seems childish to hold something against him that happened so many years ago. I guess I was being ridiculous.”

“Yes, you were.”

“Hey,” she teased, her eyes crinkled with humor. “You don't need to agree with me so quickly.”

I laughed, but as soon as I did, pain gripped me. “Oh my. Quit making me laugh. It hurts too much.”

Instead of responding with laughter, Lizzie's expression grew solemn. Now that some of the grogginess was lifting, I realized she was distracted.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

She looked back toward the door before getting even closer to the bed. “Listen,” she said quietly. “I probably shouldn't tell you this, but something happened that concerns me.”

I raised my eyebrows in a silent question.

She cranked her head around once more. Seemingly satisfied, she leaned in close. “Remember what you told me about Levi counseling someone who had information about the killings?”

“Of course. Aaron Metcalf, John Lapp, and Margaret Harper. He was upset about something one of them said.”

“I saw Leah in town yesterday, and she told me something interesting.” Lizzie's voice was barely above a whisper. “She wanted to know if we had a copy of the book of martyrs, you know, like the one Levi lost? She wants one for the school. One of the children borrowed the school's copy and their dog chewed it up.”

Lizzie seemed upset, and I was beginning to feel alarmed.

“So?”

“So when I told her we didn't have one, she mentioned that she saw John Lapp with a copy. At church. On the very day Levi lost his.”

“Oh, Lizzie. That book is all over town. John probably has his own book.”

“I'm not stupid, Callie. I know that. But here's what's interesting. When Leah asked John about his copy, he denied having one. In fact, he got very belligerent about the whole thing.”

I just stared at her. Why would John say he didn't have a copy of a book that was well-loved by the Mennonite community? There wasn't anything wrong with it.

“There's more,” Lizzie said quietly. “John traveled on the road to Kingdom early Monday morning. He could have dumped that body, Callie.”

“You told me I was imagining a link between John and the murders. You said whatever Levi heard in counseling couldn't be a confession to the killings.”

She gave an exasperated sigh. “I know what I said, and I still believe it. Forget about the counseling sessions. This is something totally different. Don't you think it's a little odd that John would deny having the book?”

I turned the question over in my mind. It did seem strange. “But what about Mary? She lives . . . I mean, she lived in Washington. I can't see John driving his buggy to Washington and luring her away so he could kill her.”

“I made a few calls yesterday to Washington. John was in town Tuesday afternoon. Right around the time Mary disappeared.”

“Oh, Lizzie. Really? John Lapp? How old is he anyway?”

“He's in his late fifties or early sixties, Callie. And still strong enough to kill someone. That's how old BTK was.”

“When I brought up John's name, you acted like I was crazy.”

“Well, I don't think you're crazy now.” She fastened narrowed eyes on me. “I called the sheriff about it.”

“You what?” Although I found Lizzie's information disturbing, hearing that she'd actually turned John's name over to the sheriff shocked me. What if she was wrong? What if I was wrong? Lizzie's excited demeanor alarmed me. She was usually the calm, rational voice in our friendship.

“Look, Callie,” she hissed, “you're the one who originally brought John up. You gave me several reasons why John could be the killer. Now I'll give you one more.” She paused dramatically. “John's first wife died under suspicious circumstances.”

I frowned at her. “I thought her death was an accident.”

Lizzie nodded enthusiastically, her dark hair bouncing. “She fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Doesn't that sound suspicious to you?”

I considered it. Although none of the facts by themselves seemed particularly ominous, together they did seem unusual.

“What did the sheriff say?”

“He thanked me for bringing all of this to his attention. He's going to do some digging around into the circumstances surrounding John's first wife. Just in case he killed her too.”

“Oh, Lizzie. I . . . I just don't know.”

She pointed her index finger at me. “For goodness' sakes, Callie. You're the one who put the thoughts in my head.” She leaned back in her chair, a look of triumph on her face. “I did think you were imagining things until Leah told me about the book. Then everything came together. It all fits.”

I nodded. Lizzie had put together a rather convincing argument. Could John Lapp actually be a crazed killer? But the whole idea was so foreign to someone who had lived a life committed to nonviolence. How could it be true?

“Sounds like the authorities are finally convinced the killings are the work of the same serial killer.”

Lizzie sighed. “They're so closemouthed, like they don't want to admit to anything. But the sheriff told me they're confident it's him.”

“Do people in Kingdom know that? We need to be careful.”

“Levi and the elders are warning everyone they can. We're all looking out for each other, but no one knows about John.”

Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired, like I'd just run out of steam. “I guess you did the right thing in contacting the sheriff,” I said, “but please don't tell Levi. He'd be furious if he knew.”

“This has nothing to do with his counseling sessions. I don't know why he'd be angry.”

“Who wouldn't be angry about what?”

Lizzie jumped, and I turned too quickly, cranking my head toward the door where Levi stood with his hat in his hand and a deep frown on his face. I cried out in pain from the sudden move, and Lizzie turned back to comfort me. She shook her head just slightly, a silent message not to tell Levi what she'd done. I clamped my mouth shut and looked the other way.

“Nothing you need to know, Levi,” Lizzie said. Although she answered him calmly, I was certain he wasn't fooled. “Just girl talk.”

“If it has something to do with me, I'd like to know.” Although my head was turned away, I could hear his shoes on the linoleum floor as he approached my bed. “Callie, is there anything you need to tell me?”

I turned my head, slowly this time, and found him standing next to Lizzie. His eyes were locked on mine. I was shocked to see dark circles under his eyes. I remembered Lizzie saying he'd been spending most of his time at the hospital. His concern for me touched me deeply.

“Like Lizzie said, it's nothing.” I tried to sit up straighter in the bed, and was rewarded with a sharp jab to the side. When I cried out, Levi's expression changed from one of suspicion to one of compassion. Although I was ashamed of myself, it's what I'd counted on.

“You're still in pain.” He glanced over at Lizzie. “Can't they do anything for her?”

Lizzie gave me a quick look, rolling her eyes. We both knew we'd just escaped an incredibly awkward moment.

“No,” she said, addressing him. “They've reduced her pain medication so she can remain conscious. Now she has to heal.”

“I'll be fine,” I said with a smile. “Have a little faith.”

A flicker of a smile crossed his features but then slipped away. “I'm confident you're going to recover, but I hate to see you hurting.”

“Which reminds me,” I said, my voice slurring. “Why am I so sore? I understand about my rib, but why is it worse now?”

Lizzie patted my cheek. “Oh, sweetie. They had to inflate your lung with a chest tube. That's what's making you so uncomfortable. But it will get better. Unfortunately, your rib will take a little longer.”

“How much longer?”

I saw Lizzie and Levi exchange a quick look, and my heart sank. “How long, Lizzie? Tell me the truth.”

“There's nothing the doctors can do,” Levi said. “They'll give you some medicine to take with you.”

“You have to take it easy, Callie,” Lizzie said, frowning. “If you don't, you could develop pneumonia.”

I felt my frustration level rising. “I want to know how long I have to
take it easy.
”

Lizzie cleared her throat. “Anywhere from six to eight weeks, Callie.”

My fatigue vanished. “Did you say six to eight weeks?”

Lizzie nodded, and Levi looked uncomfortable.

“There's no way I can lie around for two months.” I knew I sounded somewhat hysterical.

“You don't have a choice,” Lizzie said matter-of-factly. “It's simply the way it has to be.”

I tried to blink away the tears that sprung to my eyes. “But what about the restaurant? My job?”

Lizzie smiled. “You don't need to worry about that. Noah and I will take care of things.”

“And my apartment?”

“You're going to stay with us for now. We'll see about the apartment a little later.”

I started to protest, but Lizzie held a finger to her lips. “Hush. You're going to have to be brave and work with us. I know you want to go home, but you're going to need help for a while.”

I sighed in frustration. “I'm sorry. I appreciate everything you're doing for me. It's just . . .”

Everything seemed to be falling apart all at once. My engagement, my health, my job, my emotions . . . even Kingdom itself was in turmoil. Where was God in all this? Suddenly, the light I'd seen the night of the accident popped into my mind again. A sweet peace settled over me, and I smiled.